Norway has just launched MiniTV (see below) — six mobile television channels in Oslo and surrounding areas — using the DMB protocol, according to the press release.
MiniTV is offered through the Norwegian Mobile TV Corporation (NMTC), which is a joint venture between the three largest broadcasters in the country: The public broadcaster NRK, TV 2 and the Modern Times Group, the release says.
Currently, the service is free. However, two of the broadcast companies intend to offer paid channels. Three of the six channels will remain free through the duration of the NMTC’s license, July 2011.
The license could renewed if the service is popular.
DMB radio channels
The DMB service also can include 15 radio (DAB) channels. Other broadcasts, such as traffic reports and video on demand, will be available later this year.
South Korea — where free mobile TV is very popular — has aggressively promoted DMB as a “world” standard, as I’ve noted. However, popularity doesn’t always translate into profits because the country’s advertiser-supported free DMB is experiencing financial problems.
DMB also is offered in China, Ghana and Italy. France and The Netherlands will offer service later this year, the release says.
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